Using an External Media Library

Some DVD collector’s use a media library to organize their collection and reduce the volume taken by individual cases. The DVD Register supports the DACAL CD-101 or CD-300 Intelligent Media Library. DACAL is a Taiwanese Manufacturer of plastic injection molded products. Various distributors and Internet retailers sell the product in the USA. For retailers that sell the DACAL media library search on the Internet for "DACAL CD-300". The media library or carousel contains slots for 150 DVDs. The device has a USB interface to a PC and can respond to commands from the PC to select a particular slot and eject a disk. Each device contains a single port USB hub and several devices can be linked in a daisy chain.

You can use a command button in the Discs Form toolbar to request that the current title be ejected from the carousel. You must enter the location of the title is entered into the catalog at the time that the carousel is loaded. 

Links about the DACAL Unit:

The Manufacturer's Web Site
Detailed 3rd Party Review
Buy at CyberGuys.Com
Buy at CrazyPC.Com
Discussion and Support Forum at ITechCDs 

Using Multiple Libraries:

If you have more than one media library then you will need to assign unit numbers so that the DVD Register can distinguish among the devices. The manufacturer assigns each media library a machine identification number or Machine ID. For each Machine ID you can assign an alias or logical Unit ID. Use the Tools>Options:Devices form and click the command button to "Assign Unit Alias".

In the right hand list you will see a row and Machine ID for each media library connected to your PC. Select a row and click on the command button between the two lists showing. In the pop-up you can select an integer from 1 to 128. Click OK. You will then see in the left hand list the assigned Unit ID next to the associated Machine ID. The directory relationship between the Unit ID and Machine ID is stored in the Windows Registry. If you move to a new PC you will need to reassign your Unit IDs on the new PC.

To delete a Unit ID that you no longer need, select the desired row in the left hand list and click the delete key. To change a Unit ID select the desired row in the left hand list and click the change key and you can select a new Unit ID for the entry. To swap Unit IDs it is best to delete both entries and then add them back from the right hand list using the assign command button (right arrow). When you change or swap Unit IDs, you will need to manually update the entries in your catalog that include the affected Unit IDs.

The DACAL media libraries are USB devices and are plug-and-play. If a device does not appear in the right-hand list, then you should unplug it and then plug it back in. You can use the Refresh command button to refresh the list of devices connected to your PC. If the device is still missing from the list, then you should use the Control Panel and check the hardware connected to your PC with the Device Manager. Each DACAL device will be shown as a USB Human Interface Device. If the device is not shown in the Device Manager then your PC does not know it is connected and therefore the DVD Register software will also not know about it.

There is also a diagnostic button on the tab to test communications with the media library device(s) without the need to open the Administration Form.